Split Season Alternative

[Meanach]

Here’s my alternative to the split season.

2027 Hurling Master Fixtures.

6+7/2 All Ireland Club hurling Quarter Finals.
14/2 NHL Round 1.
21/2 NHL Round 2.
28/2 All Ireland Club Hurling Semi Finals.

7/3 NHL Round 3. U/20 Round 1.
14/3 NHL Round 4. U/20 Round 2.
17/3 All Ireland Club Finals.
21/3 NHL Round 5.
24/3 U/20 Round 3
28/3 NHL Finals.
31/3 U/20 Round 4.

4/4 Club Championship.
7/4 U/20 Round 5.
11/4 Club Championship
18/4 Club Championship.
25/4 Club Championship

1+2/5 Munster + Leinster U/20 Hurling Finals.
9/5 SHC Round 1.
16/5 SHC Round 2.
23/5 All Ireland U/20 Hurling Semi Finals.
30/5 SHC Round 3.

6/6 SHC Round 4
13/6 All Ireland Under 20 Hurling All Ireland Final.
20/6 SHC Round 5.

3+4/7 Munster + Leinster Senior Hurling Finals.
18/7 All Ireland Quarter Finals

1/8 All Ireland Hurling Semi Finals.
15/8 All Ireland Senior Hurling Final.
29/8 All Ireland Senior Football Final.


The following is an explanation in more detail regarding some of the changes I would like to see made.
I’ve changed the NHL from 7 to 5 games but of course the finalists will get 6 games. I considered having NHL semi finals but I feel that an extra round of club championship games is more important and more beneficial to all concerned. Also some of the NHL games can be played on the Saturday instead of the Sunday dates as listed above. The same applies to the under 20’s.
With the All Ireland senior club finals on St Patricks Day I would play the Junior and Intermediate club finals in both hurling and football on the Sunday before and after St Patricks Day.
This might require a change to some of round 2 of the under 20’s on 14/3 if there’s players involved with both clubs and county under 20’s on these dates but the 14/4 is still available if needed.

I have the Munster under 20’s beginning to Sunday the 7th of March. I know Leinster begin with their own schedule earlier than this date and they can continue to do so.
I’ve checked out the dates of the school finals and the Harty Cup Final was played on the 31/1/26 with the Croke Cup final played on St Patricks Day this year and other years. Having checked the dates for the Harty and the Croke Cup for 2025/26 I noticed that the fixtures can be tightened up a lot. For example the final round of the group games in the Harty was played on 19/11/25 with the quarter finals played on 7/1/26 and the semi finals were on the 17/1/26. The Harty Cup final was played on 31/1 and the Croke Cup games were played on the following dates, Q/F’s 21/2/26, SF’s 7/3/26 and the final on St Patricks Day. As can be seen the dates can be tightened up a lot in order to have these competitions over before the under 20 commences on the 7th of March even allowing for the very generous school holidays!
The Fitzgibbon Cup final was played on Friday the 13/2/26!
I was hoping to play the U/20’s on the weekends but it can’t happen every round unfortunately.
I’ve included All Ireland semi finals in the U/20’s because I don’t understand the reason why for example 4 teams come out of Munster in the Minor but only 1 team comes out in the U/20 competition!
I’ve left out the fixtures for the minor inter county championship for the above reason and another reason is that I think some counties allow under 17’s play adult competitions which seems crazy given how many competitions they have already!
I know I mentioned hurling fixtures but there’s a few football games in there too!

I’ve included 4 rounds in the club championship in April that can be used for both hurling and football if desired.
Imagine the certainty of players getting their fixture dates for these club championship games for example in December 2026 for their games in April 2027 unlike the present system when club players have to wait for up to nearly 7 months to play a championship game!

I would suggest getting rid of the club Provincial Championships and replace them with the following,
The 6 senior inter county teams that have qualified from Munster and Leinster are Cork, Limerick, Clare, Dublin, Galway and Offaly and the winners of the above county final club championships would progress to the All Ireland club quarter finals. They would be joined by 2 other club teams from the other hurling counties who will have the time to play firstly their county championships and then they enter an open draw to make up the final 2 spots in the club hurling All Ireland quarter finals. Of course the Provincial Councils would not be done away with and instead be financially rewarded for this new format for the clubs.
My alternative to the split season is challenging but surely it’s worth checking out. Of course tweaks will be necessary and errors will have been made but let’s have the discussion about it. We’ve plenty of time for the discussion so let’s make it enjoyable. Thanks

 

[Hallbopping]

Hands up who won’t be reading that post.

 

[Killyoursons]

Meanach,
Thanks for starting a new thread on this topic, and for going into some detail in your proposal.

The first thing to note is that what you've outlined is still in effect a split season, since there is almost no overlap between club and intercounty games. The biggest difference between your proposal and the current set-up is that the senior intercounty championship starts and finishes later. This would have undoubted benefits, if it could be made to work.

One problem with your proposal is that you schedule NHL matches for four successive weeks in March, and then go straight into four successive weeks of club championship matches in April. That's going to place a huge burden on intercounty players, the vast majority of whom are key men with their clubs and realistically can't be rested for championship matches. If you have those four weeks of club games split between hurling and football you can mitigate this problem, but only at the cost of exacerbating the next one.

A second issue is the club campaign is split in two, with a four-month gap. I can't see that being popular with club players or management. In fact, I think it would be more likely to reduce the club championships to an afterthought in many counties (with the exception of those counties that did v well in the intercounty championship).
(Note that if the four club games in April are split evenly between hurling and football, that would mean leaving a four-month gap between the opening two rounds of the club championship group games and the final games in each group. That seems ridiculous to me, tbh.)

A third issue is that there will be no club championship games in the summer. April and September aren't the worst months to play club matches, but imo they are not as good for club players as what is currently in place. This is probably my single biggest objection to your proposal.

A fourth issue is that there will be real difficulty running off the football and hurling club championships, especially in a county like Cork with a fair few dual club players. Removing the provincial championships won't help for those counties whose champions go straight to the club AI QF, since there will still need to be play-offs scheduled.

Finally, I can't agree with your suggestion regarding the six county champions going straight to the AI club QFs. Ballygunner are the current Munster and AI champions - on your proposal, should they win Waterford again they would in effect be penalised by the failure of an intercounty team, i.e., Waterford.

 

[Meanach]

Meanach,
Thanks for starting a new thread on this topic, and for going into some detail in your proposal.

The first thing to note is that what you've outlined is still in effect a split season, since there is almost no overlap between club and intercounty games. The biggest difference between your proposal and the current set-up is that the senior intercounty championship starts and finishes later. This would have undoubted benefits, if it could be made to work.

One problem with your proposal is that you schedule NHL matches for four successive weeks in March, and then go straight into four successive weeks of club championship matches in April. That's going to place a huge burden on intercounty players, the vast majority of whom are key men with their clubs and realistically can't be rested for championship matches. If you have those four weeks of club games split between hurling and football you can mitigate this problem, but only at the cost of exacerbating the next one.

A second issue is the club campaign is split in two, with a four-month gap. I can't see that being popular with club players or management. In fact, I think it would be more likely to reduce the club championships to an afterthought in many counties (with the exception of those counties that did v well in the intercounty championship).
(Note that if the four club games in April are split evenly between hurling and football, that would mean leaving a four-month gap between the opening two rounds of the club championship group games and the final games in each group. That seems ridiculous to me, tbh.)

A third issue is that there will be no club championship games in the summer. April and September aren't the worst months to play club matches, but imo they are not as good for club players as what is currently in place. This is probably my single biggest objection to your proposal.

A fourth issue is that there will be real difficulty running off the football and hurling club championships, especially in a county like Cork with a fair few dual club players. Removing the provincial championships won't help for those counties whose champions go straight to the club AI QF, since there will still need to be play-offs scheduled.

Finally, I can't agree with your suggestion regarding the six county champions going straight to the AI club QFs. Ballygunner are the current Munster and AI champions - on your proposal, should they win Waterford again they would in effect be penalised by the failure of an intercounty team, i.e., Waterford.

Thanks for your reply and in fairness one of my main reasons for starting this thread is because I want the senior inter county championship to start and finish later than the present system.
I enjoy your posts and just because I don’t always agree with them doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy them!

We know that county managers use the NHL to try new players and therefore a number of these players won’t be playing 4 NHL games in 4 successive weeks. Another thing is that the final NHL game of the 4 is the final.
The club championship fixtures is surely worth a go given the certainty it gives club players with months of notice. Let’s face it if Cork gets to the All Ireland final and when it’s done then the club championship will kick in with plenty of games week after week!

You mention the club players and management not being happy with having four championship games being played in April but you’re not thinking outside the box! My thread was not about the Cork club championship only but you didn’t see this!
Why accept the current situation in regard to the Cork club championship when the club hurlers only get a minimum of 3 championship games?
Instead of having 3 groups of 4 why not have 2 groups of 6? 2 games in April followed by 3 games after the senior inter county All Ireland is 5 games minimum for the club player and surely a better system than the present one?
Top two qualify for the semi finals and then the final which means they could be all wrapped up in both hurling and football 10 weeks after the All Ireland!
Do you disagree with having extra championship games for club players?

In regard to your “third issue”, 5+ club championship games is much better than 3+ and let’s face it April and September are not the worst months for championship hurling especially when you currently have club All Ireland semi finals being played on Christmas week!
I’m sure you have issues with this?

I don’t understand your “fourth issue” especially when the Cork hurlers are in at least an All Ireland quarter final. You need to explain this in more detail.

On your final issue, you do realise that under the present system if 2 Munster teams get to the senior All Ireland hurling final then both of their club county champions receive a bye into the Munster club semi finals! Do you think that’s fair on the present club “Munster and AI champions” Ballygunner because of the failure of the Waterford team? Of course they could still get a bye but I’m sure that’s not the point you were trying to make!

 

[Killyoursons]

Thanks for your reply and in fairness one of my main reasons for starting this thread is because I want the senior inter county championship to start and finish later than the present system.

That's a reasonable aim - *if* the other considerations can be accommodated.

We know that county managers use the NHL to try new players and therefore a number of these players won’t be playing 4 NHL games in 4 successive weeks.

A number won't, but to be clear, a number will. And even if a player is rested for a week, they will then go straight into a club championship where they will be relied upon heavily.

Another thing is that the final NHL game of the 4 is the final.

True.

The club championship fixtures is surely worth a go given the certainty it gives club players with months of notice.

The current system (in Cork at least, and afaik in most counties) has a degree of certainty as well, in that players know months in advance when the club championships will begin and end, and they can plan around those dates.

Let’s face it if Cork gets to the All Ireland final and when it’s done then the club championship will kick in with plenty of games week after week!

It will, but the current set-up has the big advantage of running the club championships off in a single block (with rest weeks), not inserting a four-month gap. So the number of players who would have to go straight from intercounty action to club action is comparatively small, since si few would

You mention the club players and management not being happy with having four championship games being played in April but you’re not thinking outside the box! My thread was not about the Cork club championship only but you didn’t see this!

Why accept the current situation in regard to the Cork club championship when the club hurlers only get a minimum of 3 championship games?
Instead of having 3 groups of 4 why not have 2 groups of 6? 2 games in April followed by 3 games after the senior inter county All Ireland is 5 games minimum for the club player and surely a better system than the present one?
Top two qualify for the semi finals and then the final which means they could be all wrapped up in both hurling and football 10 weeks after the All Ireland!
Do you disagree with having extra championship games for club players?

It depends. The current system works v well in Cork because it has a high degree of jeopardy and minimises the number of dead rubbers. The system you propose would be much more vulnerable to teams being out of contention early, so more matches but a higher chance that many of them would mean little.

A number of other counties already have larger groups, along the lines you propose - the difference is usually that more teams qualify for the knockouts, so they have even more games than on your model.

In regard to your “third issue”, 5+ club championship games is much better than 3+ and let’s face it April and September are not the worst months for championship hurling especially when you currently have club All Ireland semi finals being played on Christmas week!
I’m sure you have issues with this?

April and September aren't the summer months, which you are basically proposing to wall off for intercounty games only. I think hurling is a summer sport and it greatly enhances club championships to have many games played in the best possible conditions.

I don’t understand your “fourth issue” especially when the Cork hurlers are in at least an All Ireland quarter final. You need to explain this in more detail.

It concerns how the club championships would be run off, especially in a county like Cork with a large number of dual players. I think rest weeks would be needed to allow clubs with small picks to have any chance. There is also the danger of postponements as the weather worsens. So your proposal to wrap things up ten weeks after the AI final strikes me as v optimistic indeed.

On your final issue, you do realise that under the present system if 2 Munster teams get to the senior All Ireland hurling final then both of their club county champions receive a bye into the Munster club semi finals! Do you think that’s fair on the present club “Munster and AI champions” Ballygunner because of the failure of the Waterford team? Of course they could still get a bye but I’m sure that’s not the point you were trying to make!

I don't think that's fair, no. Much fairer to draw it randomly each year.

 

[Meanach]

That's a reasonable aim - *if* the other considerations can be accommodated

Good start.

A number won't, but to be clear, a number will. And even if a player is rested for a week, they will then go straight into a club championship where they will be relied upon heavily.

True but the same applies when the inter county players have to go back to the club championships and they will also be relied upon heavily!

The current system (in Cork at least, and afaik in most counties) has a degree of certainty as well, in that players know months in advance when the club championships will begin and end, and they can plan around those dates.

The same can happen with my system plus the club players in Cork for example will get more championship games and what’s not to like about extra club championship games!

It will, but the current set-up has the big advantage of running the club championships off in a single block (with rest weeks), not inserting a four-month gap. So the number of players who would have to go straight from intercounty action to club action is comparatively small, since si few would

The current setup however has a 7 month gap and only gives the club players 3+ championship games instead of my 5+ games!
That’s a big difference for the club player.

It depends. The current system works v well in Cork because it has a high degree of jeopardy and minimises the number of dead rubbers. The system you propose would be much more vulnerable to teams being out of contention early, so more matches but a higher chance that many of them would mean little.

Of course it depends.
Every system is vulnerable but imo having club players being guaranteed 5+ games is a big incentive especially when they’re only getting 3+ games in the current system and having to wait up to 7 months to play them.

A number of other counties already have larger groups, along the lines you propose - the difference is usually that more teams qualify for the knockouts, so they have even more games than on your model.

Now you are mentioning “other counties”!
Remember earlier when you couldn’t think outside the box and just thought of Cork? It seems like I’m getting there!
In relation to these other counties, they might have more time if the inter county scene didn’t go their way but even if their county was going well in the championship they would still have at least 2 rounds of club championship games under their belt!
You know this but at times you go looking for problems instead of looking at the bigger picture which is club players having extra championship games!

April and September aren't the summer months, which you are basically proposing to wall off for intercounty games only. I think hurling is a summer sport and it greatly enhances club championships to have many games played in the best possible conditions.

Do you think that playing All Ireland club semi finals on Christmas week “enhances club championships”?
It’s a yes or no answer and btw earlier you ignored the same point about playing All Ireland club semi finals on Christmas week!

It concerns how the club championships would be run off, especially in a county like Cork with a large number of dual players. I think rest weeks would be needed to allow clubs with small picks to have any chance. There is also the danger of postponements as the weather worsens. So your proposal to wrap things up ten weeks after the AI final strikes me as v optimistic indeed.

HaHa.
You’re more worried about the weather in September and October than on Christmas week for the All Ireland semi finals and January when the All Ireland club finals are currently played! Seriously?
Under my system we could have our county club championships completed by November in all grades with December and January free for the club and county players to relax and enjoy their well earned break!

I don't think that's fair, no. Much fairer to draw it randomly each year.

Have you mentioned this before on here?
Why do I think you’re making it up as you go along?

Based on your above post you need to up your game!
I know that you’re better than this, show me!

 

[Killyoursons]

True but the same applies when the inter county players have to go back to the club championships and they will also be relied upon heavily!

Yes, but because the intercounty championship tapers off most intercounty players will have much more chance to rest before being thrust into club action.

The same can happen with my system plus the club players in Cork for example will get more championship games and what’s not to like about extra club championship games!

I've already explained a drawback with your proposed system of six-team pools.

The current setup however has a 7 month gap

Not in the middle of a single club championship it doesn't. You are proposing that the club championships get rolling in April and then promptly go into hibernation until the autumn.

You know this but at times you go looking for problems instead of looking at the bigger picture which is club players having extra championship games!

I'm pointing out problems which you seem to have overlooked.

Do you think that playing All Ireland club semi finals on Christmas week “enhances club championships”?

No. Do you think abolishing most/all provincial club championships does?

HaHa.
You’re more worried about the weather in September and October than on Christmas week for the All Ireland semi finals and January when the All Ireland club finals are currently played!

Under the current system a tiny number of club matches are played in Christmas week. Under your proposed system dozens of club matches right across the country would be played in October and November.

Under my system we could have our county club championships completed by November in all grades with December and January free for the club and county players to relax and enjoy their well earned break!

For the vast majority of players this is already the case. Intercounty players will do preseason training, challenge matches etc - you've said nothing about how this will change. Colleges hurling (Fitzgibbon, Freshers etc) currently takes place in the winter, again you haven't suggested any concrete changes here. Every other player (bar those with a handful of clubs) gets to enjoy this holiday time already.

Have you mentioned this before on here?

No. Why should I have?

Why do I think you’re making it up as you go along?

If you think I am, there's always the option of not replying to my posts.

Based on your above post you need to up your game!
I know that you’re better than this, show me!

If you really believe that your proposed schedule is that much better than what is in place at the moment, will you be taking it to your club to bring to the CB and ultimately the GAA congress? It would be a shame if you never got any further with this than arguing the toss with posters (ok, a poster) on here.

 

[Meanach]

Yes, but because the intercounty championship tapers off most intercounty players will have much more chance to rest before being thrust into club action.

They won’t have “much more chance to rest”.

I've already explained a drawback with your proposed system of six-team pools

I’ll say it again, club players training for up to 7 months for just 3 championship games is the current system but they can get 5 games in my system. I know what system I’d like to play in especially when I’m guaranteed at least 2 championship games in the month of April.

Not in the middle of a single club championship it doesn't. You are proposing that the club championships get rolling in April and then promptly go into hibernation until the autumn.

Yes and the present system is in “hibernation” until the end of July!
My system is guaranteeing 5+ championship games for the club players instead of the current system of 3+ club championship games.

I'm pointing out problems which you seem to have overlooked

Hang on now a minute, you overlooked “other counties” and you had to be reminded of that by me earlier! You even forgot to mention it in the quote you left out when you were told to start thinking outside the box!
Remember now?

No. Do you think abolishing most/all provincial club championships does?

Yes because it would be a new venture and get a lot more attention and plenty of coverage because of its novelty.
You admit that the current system of having All Ireland club semi finals being played on Christmas week doesn’t “enhance club championships” but I’m not sure you have an idea on what can be done to change this!

Under the current system a tiny number of club matches are played in Christmas week. Under your proposed system dozens of club matches right across the country would be played in October and November.

I noticed that you have left out January in your above comment! Why is that when the club All Ireland finals are played in the month of January instead of giving the club player the chance to play in Croke Park on St Patricks Day!
Why do you disagree with this?
What’s wrong with “dozens of club matches right across the country” playing in October and November when you currently have All Ireland club semi finals being played on Christmas week and All Ireland club finals being played in the month of January?

For the vast majority of players this is already the case. Intercounty players will do preseason training, challenge matches etc - you've said nothing about how this will change. Colleges hurling (Fitzgibbon, Freshers etc) currently takes place in the winter, again you haven't suggested any concrete changes here. Every other player (bar those with a handful of clubs) gets to enjoy this holiday time already.

True but with the inter county beginning a month later, then the pre-season, challenge games etc are time enough in January. Why do you want to continue with the same thing that needs to change?
The Fitzgibbon began in early January 2026 and as I already posted the final was played on the 13th of February.
The Sigerson began on the 6th of January 2026 and the final was played on the 11th of February.
The Freshers hurling began on the 20th of January and the final was played on the 4th of March.
The Freshers football began on the 8th of January and the final was played on the 12th of February.

No. Why should I have?

Another problem you have with the current system!
You could have mentioned it if you wanted to when I asked you on a different thread but you didn’t mention it!

If you think I am, there's always the option of not replying to my posts.

See above when I asked you on another thread if you had any adjustments to make but you didn’t include the one above!
See what I mean now?

If you really believe that your proposed schedule is that much better than what is in place at the moment, will you be taking it to your club to bring to the CB and ultimately the GAA congress? It would be a shame if you never got any further with this than arguing the toss with posters (ok, a poster) on here.

You’re not the first to ask me about posting up an alternative fixture list in the GAA calendar.
HaHa,
You’re not even the first to ask me on this site!
I noticed that you’re trying to shift away from discussing your own views so the next obvious thing to do is to ask you to post up your fixture calendar on here for the 2027 GAA season. Will you oblige?
Many thanks.

 

[Killyoursons]

Meanach, I think this will my last post on this thread. Fair play to you for going to the trouble of putting together an alternative schedule. I've pointed out a few problems, and instead of considering adjusting your proposals you've dug your heels in at every turn. Which is your prerogative, but makes for a rather dull exchange imo.

On your last question, I won't be posting a proposed fixture calender because I don't think I know enough to have a serious overall alternative. I don't think I've ever suggested otherwise.

 

[BettyDoesMallow]

Hands up who won’t be reading that post.

TL;DR (your post not the OP)